Discoveries from the Fleisher Collection

The first Saturday of each month, 5 to 6 pm; Wednesdays, 9 to 10 pm on HD-2

In Discoveries from the Fleisher Collection, we uncover the unknown, rediscover the little-known, and take a fresh look at some of the remarkable treasures housed in the Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music in the Free Library of Philadelphia. The Fleisher Collection is the largest lending library of orchestral performance material in the world.

In this edition of Discoveries, we'll hear music by one of the leading American women composers of the mid-20th century. Elinor Remick Warren was also pianist to the stars, and the wife of a Hollywood producer. Solidly in the American Romantic tradition of Howard Hanson and Samuel Barber, there's also a streak of French impressionism shining through her music.

Works by American Composer Gloria Coates and German Composer Salomon Jadassohn

The 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall is November 9th, 2009. Inspired by this historic event, the American composer Gloria Coates (who has lived in Germany for years) dedicated her seventh symphony "to those who brought down the Wall in PEACE." Salomon Jadassohn was an eminent composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher in Germany. Although he died in 1902, his works were still banned by anti-Semitic followers of Wagner in the 1930s. Fortunately, his music (ironically influenced by Wagner) is beginning to be heard once again. Read more...

Works by Victor Herbert (1859-1924) and George Whitefield Chadwick (1854-1931)

Two composers lose parents early on. One receives his musical education on another continent with the blessing of a supportive grandfather, and the other begins to eke out a living in music after his stepfather refuses to help. They soon become two of the most important and influential American musicians of their generation.

On this all-French program we feature three solo instruments with orchestra, or is it four? Camille Saint-Sa?ns and Paul Jeanjean bring us pieces for violin solo, piano solo, and two different kinds of horn - with valves and without valves, the so-called "natural" horn.

Alexander Glazunov combined the spice of Russian nationalism with the smoothness of European symphonic music. On this edition of Discoveries from the Fleisher Collection, we'll hear the music of this transitional and important figure, the student of Rimsky-Korsakov, and the teacher of Shostakovich.